Swedish dignitaries to visit Galva, Bishop Hill

A group of Swedish dignitaries will conduct a cultural and musical presentation in Bishop Hill on Friday, May 31.

The presentation will be from 1 to 1:30 p.m. in VagnHall Galleri at the Prairie Arts Center.

Tourism director Katarina Ceder Bång of Hälsingland will first talk about the cultural and natural assets of the northern Swedish region, including the timbered Hälsingland Farms, newly-designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

National folkfiddlers Görgen Antonsson and Örjan Hans-Ers will then play several songs to finish the presentation.

The event is free and open to the public.

The presentation is part of a larger tour of the United States being conducted by this group. Stops include the Quad Cities, Andover, Bishop Hill, Galva, and Chicago. Other group participants are governors Barbro Holmberg of Gävleborg Province, Sweden´s former Minister of Migration; Britt Bohlin of Jämtland, recognized national defense expert and former member of the Swedish Parliament; and Bo Källstrand of Västernorrland, former head of Swedish Energy.

Also visiting will be university presidents Dr. Maj-Britt Johansson of Gävle Högskola, a forestry land use expert, and Dr. Anders Söderholm of Mittuniversitetet, a specialist in regional planning and development.

They will be accompanied by tourism director Mats Forslund of Jämtland and by tour organizer Olle Lundgren, Jämtland Provincial Planner.